Shibdon returns

With more hot weather Kibblesworth Brick Works was again alive with dragonflies. 50+ Four-spotted Chaser were chasing over the pond with more newly emerged hiding in the vegetation. Stars of the show today were the four male Black-tailed Skimmer that showed well basking on the dry, open soil. Still loads of Common Blue and Azure Damsels with a few Blue-tailed. Good numbers of butterflies with Meadow Brown, Small Skipper, Ringlet, Small Heath, Common Blue and Small Tortoiseshell.

Black-tailed Skimmer

Black-tailed Skimmer

Four-spotted Chaser

Small Heath

A stop at Lamesley bridge quickly gave a couple of Banded Demoiselle, a distant male dancing over the river and a close female hunting from vegetation.

Banded Demoiselle with lunch

Keeping cool

After this afternoon's thunder storm I had a trip down to Shibdon to see what the rain had nocked down. A spanking summer plumage Black-tailed Godwit was the answer, feeding at the far side of the pond.

Black-tailed Godwit

Roe Deer

I'd just got home, via a disappointing Far Pasture, when Paul D called to say a Mediterranean Gull had just dropped into Shibdon. Out of the door again and the bird was quickly seen in front of the hide.

Mediterranean Gull